Kirk is eighteen months old!

It is hard to believe my baby boy is 18 months old!  Where has the time gone?  He is such a big boy these days.  Gone are the days of spooning food into his mouth, he does that all by himself now.  He is getting really good at using a spoon and a fork.  We have moved out of the highchair to a booster seat at the table, which he seems to enjoy.  We also just tried out our new umbrella stroller, and he seemed to be okay with that, too.  We hear "I get it!" and "I did/do it!" a lot at our house.  I am so proud of his independence, but sometimes I wish he'd accept just a little help from his Mama and Daddy!  He is a strong, brave little boy though, and he is determined to to it all by himself.  The picture above was taken on February 13.  Kirk and Bella spent some time together with Jeremy while Erin and I went shopping.  Jeremy said they played well together, and Kirk was excited to show Bella how to "SLIDE!!"

Kirk is giving Bella a hug.  She looks thrilled, huh?

Although we made a pact to not buy any more toys until Kirk's birthday, Jeremy came home from a trip to Wal-Mart with a gigantic basketball hoop.  Kirk does LOVE basketball and likes to shoot hoops at day care.  It is a little too big for him, so Jeremy pulled it over to the slide so he can climb up and shoot.  Amazingly, it didn't take Kirk long to figure out how to climb up the slide holding the balls under his chin!  He shoots them and then slides down and gathers them back up, climbs back up, and shoots again.  It hasn't gotten old and he still claps for himself every time.  We have even taught him to pump his fist and cheer "Whoot!  Whoot!"  He is hilarious!  I love to hear him say "baskee-ball!"

So I used to get a sly little grin when I said "cheese" for the camera, and this is what I get now--crazy, scrunched up faces and uncontrollable giggling.  It's okay, though.  I think I laugh harder than he does!

"Play is a child's work." ~Jean Piaget

I titled this blog post with a quote from one of my favorite early childhood theorists, Jean Piaget. Piaget was really the first of many who opened the eyes of educational professionals long ago to the power and importance of the play of young children. Since I have spent the last ten years of my life "playing" with children each day, I of course always saw the value in playing with purpose and connecting with young children.  I watched them grow and learn for nine months out of the year and saw them mature and learn new things.  I always valued play and chose the materials that I used in my classrooms wisely.  No classroom experience prepared me for the amazing "play" experiences that I have had with my little boy.

Kirk is ALMOST 18 months old now.  He can play, play, play!  He has moved swiftly through several types of play and amazes me with the things he now "pretends" to do.  He sometimes prefers to play alone, and moves his toys away from me so he can do whatever he wants with them.  He puts on a scarf, throws a bag over his shoulder, waves and says "bye-bye" to Jeremy and I and reaches for the door handle.  He likes to fill things and empty them.  He hides things and then looks for them.  He likes to play chase, stack toys, and climb on everything.  The power of play is amazing.  We can play with an expensive toy, or an empty yogurt container.  It's all "play," and it's all important.  I love playing with my little boy, and I hope he always loves playing with me!

So all the cold weather and snow days had us feeling cooped up.  We played at home; we played at the mall; we played at Chick-fil-a (with Angel and Riley); and we decided to try to go play at Billy Bob's!  Kirk was too little for most of the stuff, but he liked sitting in this firetruck and turning the steering wheel.  He had no fear of climbing on or in anything, which makes me fear the future!  Yikes!

There was a highly visible sign that said "No Children Under 3" on the carousel.  Jeremy plopped him on a horse anyway, and of course he yelled "Go!  Go!"  How in the world did he know that everything has a "go" button?

He did ride the little ferris wheel and he said "Whee!" every time it went around.  We actually had to come back and ride it again!

He has gotten much better about sitting (not climbing, standing, or jumping) in his chair.  In this picture, he is holding his Elmo doll while watching "Elmo's World" on dvd.  He is quite the tv junkie these days and would watch it forever if I'd let him.  He loves Elmo and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  He talks to the tv, laughs at funny things, and waves at the characters.  He has learned a few things, like counting to 10 and a few more animal sounds.  I swear, his ability to tune me out while his favorite shows are on is definitely a skill he got from his dad!

If you're reading this blog, I hope that you have children around you that you can play with.  I am reminded everyday that the theories I learned and taught from for years are true.  Nothing is more important than engaging in play with young children.  Just put your "to do" list in the back of your mind and spend time completely focused on children and their imaginative thoughts and actions.  It truly is the most priceless experience. 
So....go have some fun, and JUST PLAY!!

"Play is often talked about as if it is a relief from serious learning.  But for children, play is serious learning.  Play is really the work of childhood."  ~Fred Rogers  (my favorite)



Holly Jolly Christmas

The Walkers had a wonderful Christmas!  We want to thank all of our family and friends for all they have done for us!

Kirk is opening his gift from Auntie Megan in this picture.  He was a bit slow...we all got bored waiting for him to tear off a substantial sized piece of paper.  We had to help him out a little, and then he got excited!

After untwisting and turning all the pieces, Kirk loved playing with his Little People barn.  He loves the "doodle-do" (rooster) and for some reason, always slams the goat in the silo and says, "bye-bye!."  Who knows?  I thought he liked goats! 

Bella, Auntie Erin, and Kirk admiring our tree on Christmas Eve

We got LOTS of gifts on Christmas Eve at MeMe and Poppy's!  Kirk loves his Thomas tricycle and can now say "All Aboard!"

Kirk seemed to like the Nerf guns that we got for Tanner best of all.

Poppy showed him how to shoot them in the air.  Great!

Kirk yelled "DUCKY!" when he came downstairs Christmas morning.  He grabbed Donald Duck off his slide, and then realized that the slide was there!  He immediatley said "SLIDE!" and started trying to pull himself up.

 This is his first attempt at climbing up the slide.  It didn't take long to get the hang of it, but the first time was hilarious.  He was grunting and trying to pull himself up with his teeth!  After he figured out the hand/foot coordination, he was fine and can now get up there in about 1/2 a second!



Kirk got his beloved Barney from Aunt Debbie at Gramma's house. 

 He hugs and kisses Barney when he sings.

Kirk loves his race track from Gramma Debi.  He likes to send all of his cars down the track, along with the farm animals, puzzle pieces, musical instruments, etc.  He loves to put them at the top and say "1,2,3, GO!"

This was my attempt at trying to take a picture of Kirk and Astro together for his "family photos" for his new school (day care).  Neither one of them would have any part of  it, and in this picture, Kirk is pushing on Astro's hindquarters yelling "GO!"  Poor Astro!

Kirk loves his new slide.  He slides with Mickey, Donald, books, cars, animals, instruments, etc.  Now he says "Wee!" when he slides down.  I think he learned that at school!

     Kirk had a great first week at day care!  He likes his new teachers and all of his new friends.  He made a hat, painted, sang songs, played in the "romper room," and danced.  He and his friends made a handprint American flag today.  His teachers say he has eaten well and he has taken 2 1/2 hour nap on his cot all week!  We are so proud of him!  He is such a big boy and growing up so fast.  He has picked up a few new words this week and started putting 2-3 words together, like "Hi Daddy!"  "Go at-side, bye-bye!"  and "Mama car."  He has started pretending more, especially with kitchen items ( his favorite area of his classroom) and pretends to stir with a spoon and says "Yummy!" and pretends to eat from the spoon.  He is starting to push cars in paths on the floor and makes sounds like "vroom, vroom" while he is pushing them.  He even pushed two cars together and said "boom!"   His fine motor skills amaze me!  He is able to pick up a raisin with his thumb and index finger and he is already holding a crayon with a three finger grasp.  He is learning things so quickly and surprises us each day! 

Have youself a merry little Christmas....

We went to a live nativity on Friday, December 17, 2010 at Jefferson Avenue Church of God.  They had two goats and a donkey (along with all the dressed up characters).  I guess Kirk forgot about the goats he loved at the pumpkin patch, because he wasn't too fond of these goats.  Maybe it's because he didn't get to feed them?  He giggled a little when they munched on their hay.  He did like "Bee-Bee Cheesus" (which was a doll) and kept pointing to the people in the manger.  We stayed for a bit and listened to the music.  It was very nice and really put us all in the Christmas spirit!

Kirk and Jeremy visited the donkey.  He was a cute little guy! 

Kirk's relationship with Marco is a work in progress.  We went to a basketball game today and Marco had a Santa suit on!  Kirk watched from a distance while his friend J.D. got his picture taken with him.  I guess the peer pressure wasn't speaking to him, because he would only permit about a two feet barrier.  He apparently made a little peace with him, though, because he got a little closer later in the game.....

So there was also a "Santa" at the game, and Kirk let him touch his arm!  I was proud!  He didn't cry, but he did kind of give him the look of death.  That's okay, we're making progress!

Jeremy and I braced for disaster as Santa Marco walked up the steps in our section..... 

Okay, so he clung to Jeremy and didn't exactly make eye contact...but he didn't cry!  Marco waved at him a few times and Kirk happily told him "bye bye" when he walked away! 

We are really going to have to work on our opinion of costumed characters if we plan to visit Disney World!  He can't be afraid of Mickey and Minnie...it will break my heart!  Jeremy and I have faith that by the end of basketball season that Kirk and Marco will be best friends and you will see a picture of them smiling together posted here!  Wishful thinking, huh??

Baby it's cold outside!

So you would think with all these days off that I've had lately that I would be blogging about all that we've been up to!  We have been so busy that I had to force myself to take a minute and sit down to post a few updates.  Kirk is growing up so fast!  He is such a funny little guy and loves to laugh and have fun. Everyone comments on what a "happy baby" he is and most people comment on how "smart" he is!  He's always doing something quirky and funny.   He is always smiling and enjoys everything we do.  He LOVES books and we read probably 15-20 a day.  He loves to make music and dance.  He is beginning to love animals and make animal sounds and climbing and jumping are two of his favorite things to do.  It's a good thing Santa is bringing a climber/slide for him!  He will love it!  He also loves Mickey Mouse (and Donald), Barney and Elmo.  Here is a list of the words that he uses everyday:

Al-mo (Elmo)

Bee-nee (Barney)

choo-choo (train)

aaah-choo (pretend sneeze)

Hot Dog (dance...on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse)

Chicka (from Sprout's Sunny Side Up Show)

kitty cat

doggie

ducky

up

down

bye bye

hi

oh no!

oh, WOW!

I get it!

car

cow

apple

ball

football

nana (banana)

nummy nummy (yummy, yummy)

1,2,3, GO!

stop

off

night night

socky (socks)

shoes

cookie

cracker

Pop (goes the Weasel)

bubble

Boo!

Mama

Daddy

baby

at-side (outside)

side-to-side (swaying back and forth-he learned this in music class)

snow

animal sounds:  moo, baa, doodle-doo (cock-a-doodle-doo), woof-woof, cack-cack (quack, quack)

*I'm sure there's more that I can't remember right now.  I am amazed at how he tries to copy every word we say and has started using so much language.  He knows several words in sign lanuage and uses them daily as well.  He signs: more, milk, cookie, please, sorry, thank you, hurt, bath, and he is starting to use diaper,  mommy and daddy.  He is so pround of himself when we praise him for speaking and signing!

I am amazed at how he is beginning to pretend play.  He was pretending to "go night night" here and had me lift him up on the couch!  He looks really tired, huh?  He also pretends to feed his baby doll a bottle (and Elmo, his Little People, etc.)! 

We went to Breakfast with Santa at my school on Saturday, December 4, 2010.  Kirk wouldn't have much to do with Santa, but he ate some pancakes and loved playing in my classrom.  He really enjoyed the cash register and our dramatic play area!

We got our first good snow of the winter on Monday, December 14, 2010 and Kirk LOVED playing in it.  He trudged all over the yard and fell a couple hundred times.  He kept yelling "SNEW" and laughing.  I had to pull him inside by his snowsuit and listen to him scream his head off and run from him while he chased me with my coat saying "GO!  AT-SIDE!"  haha.  I think he cried longer than he played.  He loves playing outdoors!

This is a picture of Kirk SITTING in his new chair.  This is a rare occurance, because he is usually standing, climbing or jumping in it!  We are working really hard on "sit down" and getting him to plop his bottom on the chair instead of his head!  He does like to climb in it and look at his books or watch a little tv.  We are also working on telling Astro it is NOT a new resting spot for him! 

I hope you are all getting ready to have a happy holiday season.  We have received lots of beautiful cards from our family and friends.  Kirk loves looking at the picture cards and trying to say our friends' names.  Kirk didn't want much to do with Santa, so you won't see a picture of him sitting on his lap this year!  Jeremy and I are so excited to give Kirk all of his new toys (Jeremy has been REALLY excited about Christmas this year and has done most of the shopping for Kirk's things).  We are so very blessed with our precious little boy and we are so thankful to watch him grow and learn new things.  I am so thankful for this past week (snow days) and the next two weeks with him.  We are going to have so much fun!

Kirk will start going to Cross Roads United Methodist Child Care on January 3, 2011.  We have visited and Kirk loved all the toys and kids.  His teachers seem very kind and loving.  We are excited for him to begin a structured routine and have opportunities to sing, dance, play, and do art activities each day. He will eat in a small chair at the table (no high chair!) with his food on a tray (that is NOT held down!)  and nap on a cot (well, maybe...haha).  He is getting to be such a big boy. We think he will love playing with other children his age each day.   Please pray for us as we make this transition!

New pictures of the Walkers

We had pictures taken by Kristi B Photography on November 14, 2010.  It was a dreary rainy day, but Kirk didn't seem to mind and trudged through the wet grass (at Barboursville Park) and posed for pictures like a model!  He is really getting good at this, and apparently, Kristi is really good at editing out dirt stains on white sweaters!  It was a fun day and we are so happy with all of the pictures.  Thanks so much, Kristi!  You will see these again on your Christmas cards....coming soon! 

Halloween and Homecoming

We went to the Francisco's Halloween party on Saturday, October 23.  Kirk helped me put some foam stickers on a pumpkin and had a great time playing with the other kids.

Kirk and Daddy at the Francisco's 

Kirk dressed up for music class on Monday, October 25, 2010

Kirk had just taken a ball from his friend Wyatt (elephant).  They love to take things from each other and run away!

 We carved our pumpkin on Wednesday, October 27, 2010.  To Jeremy's dismay, I let Kirk do whatever he wanted to the "guts" and even showed him how to scoop some out and throw it!  We had a great time, and he got over his disgust for the goop and seeds.  The faces and sounds he made were so funny!

He stuck his hand inside and made a terrible face! 

He doesn't look too thrilled, but he was too curious not to try it out.

I carved a "W" in our pumpkin.  Next year, I figure we'll have to go with something more traditional!

Trick or treating with Bella on Thursday, October 28.

Kirk's first trick-or-treat house...our neighbors Ron and Phyllis.  We only went to a few houses, but Kirk enjoyed seeing all the other kids.

We went to the Pumpkin House on Friday, October 29.  Kirk wanted to touch all the pumpkins! 

Kirk and Mommy at the Pumpkin House 

We all went to the Alpha Xi house for MU Homecoming on Saturday, October 30.  Kirk did NOT enjoy the parade one bit.  He looked pretty disgusted the whole time! 

Kirk is reading the sign outside of the Alpha Xi house and thinking about how he will ever find a girl as good as his mommy.....she will have to be an Alpha Xi!   

Kirk and Daddy watching the parade.  He perked up a bit when he got to ride on Daddy's shoulders. 

We had a very long day (with no nap!) and Kirk held out until halftime at the game.  I know he was exhausted, but he still managed to smile and enjoy a book at the game.  We were glad to see so many people and Kirk enjoyed playing football with the boys at the tailgate.  We were so happy to get another HERD win!   GO HERD!